Have you ever used a travel agent before? If you are like me, most people that I know never have. I mean, why would you when you can go on a website like Priceline or Expedia and get most of the information that you need. In a lot of cases I agree. If you are going to Vegas and see a screaming deal for $250, then of course you consider it.
Let me ask you this, “Why wouldn’t you use a travel agent when planning your once in a lifetime trip to Australia”? First of all, booking through a travel agent is about the same price as purchasing online, and many times cheaper. My wife Molly’s father Mike Malaney has been in the industry for over 30 years and in the past two years there have been several times he has helped my wife and I out from airline issues. Frequently, he logs into his Travel Agent system and helps my wife get on a flight after hers has been cancelled (for those of you that fly through Chicago you know exactly what I mean). I guess I am just wondering, if it cost the same why wouldn’t go to a professional like Mike Malaney, and have “A REAL PERSON” that actually cares about you, and the travel experience you deserve.
Let me tell you a quick story that happened just a few weeks ago. My wife’s best friend was on her way to her honeymoon in Jamaica. Upon arrival in North Carolina from Milwaukee, the happy couple found out that their flight to Jamaica has been canceled because the airport in Jamaica went on strike. The couple immediately calls their friendly travel agent Mike Malaney. Mike quickly puts them on another flight, hoping the airport may stop the strike quickly. The airport is ordered to go off strike, but just for a short time. In that time only one flight gets departs to Jamaica, and Mike was smart enough to book them on that flight. If they had booked online, our happy honeymooners would have been out of luck and be sent home to honeymoon in their own hometown of Milwaukee.
I know things like this don’t happen every day, but they do happen more than you think. Why wouldn’t you want a Travel Agent like Mike Malaney when planning your once in a lifetime trip to Australia? He will be there for you in the way those online sites cannot.
Here’s to all of you hard working travel agents out there! Keep the passion alive, because the value you add to your customers is more than just one little click.
Here is to your next adventure!
Jason
http:’//www.duatravel.com
Jason you should have added that the travel agent can also take care of getting your visa’s.
I agree, anytime you are going to a country you have never been to before you need that guidance to help you navigate transportation, entertainment/restaurants and most of all cultural norms. A lot of this can be overlooked when looking to just book the airfare and hotel.
Another thing I find when traveling internationally is that the hotel and resort brands are different than in the US, so you may not be as familiar with the type of hotel or service that you might be used to. Checking with an expert on the area can go a long way.